There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Extra 3.2

Qin Ke stood on the glass corridor connecting the main building and the side building. The last rays of the setting sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, enveloping her in warmth and immersing her in her own soft thoughts.

Until footsteps entered from one end of the corridor.

Qin Ke turned her head to look.

Wearing a formal suit at home that was almost like formal attire… truly an exceptionally dedicated butler.

Qin Ke thought to herself, a slight smile appearing on her face.

“Butler Huo.”

Huo Jingyan stopped in his tracks.

He had just come out of Huo Zhonglou’s study, his ears still ringing with the echoes of Huo Zhonglou’s roar – but Huo Jingyan could tell that unlike the previous outbursts of rage and irritation, this time Huo Zhonglou’s anger… stemmed more from a sense of helplessness.

Being forcefully pulled towards a more vibrant and emotional place by a girl who was very different from what he had imagined.

Someone was panicking.

This was something Huo Jingyan hadn’t been able to achieve in two years of effort, and he initially couldn’t bring himself to believe that the naive and innocent Qin Ke had easily accomplished it.

But now, facing the girl not far away, seeing her smile gently, greeting him softly with neither pride nor humility…

Huo Jingyan suddenly believed it.

Had he been negligent?

How had he failed to notice that this girl, who had grown up slowly under the shadow of the Qin family, had become so different from before?

Huo Jingyan couldn’t figure it out.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to understand it immediately.

“Miss Qin Ke,” Huo Jingyan stopped beside the girl, “Mr. Qin, Mrs. Yin, and your sister Miss Qin Yan have decided to dine out tonight – would you like me to take you to join them at the restaurant, or would you prefer to have dinner prepared for you at home?”

Qin Ke blinked.

She now understood her parents and Qin Yan too well, so this news didn’t surprise her.

“I don’t really want to go. Can I not go?”

Huo Jingyan nodded, “Understood. Then would you like to dine in the home restaurant or on the terrace tonight? I’ll have the staff prepare.”

Qin Ke’s eyes flickered.

She suddenly smiled, “Can it be anywhere?”

Huo Jingyan was momentarily taken aback.

“Yes, even if you want it here, I can have them set up a dining table.”

Qin Ke’s eyes curved into a smile.

“Then I want to have dinner with Huo Zhonglou – wherever he is, that’s where I’ll be.”

This time, Huo Jingyan was stunned for a full five seconds before he came back to his senses. He gave Qin Ke a complicated look, then nodded again.

“Very well, Miss Qin Ke. I will arrange it for you.”

Qin Ke smiled gently.

――

She knew that Huo Jingyan would cooperate with her actions for the sake of Huo Zhonglou’s psychological recovery.

Although he might have some doubts about her, for the current Qin Ke, how others saw or thought of her didn’t matter.

Only Huo Zhonglou was most important.

However…

She could already imagine how flustered Huo Zhonglou would be when suddenly notified that they would be dining together.

Under the sunset’s red glow, the girl followed the butler towards the main building with her delicate white hands behind her back.

Her steps were light, and on her fair, beautiful oval face, a gentle and playful smile bloomed.

Half an hour later.

In the main building’s dining room.

Sitting at the head of the long dining table, Huo Zhonglou expressionlessly glanced at the object to his left, then looked up with cold eyes.

“What do you mean by this?”

Huo Jingyan calmly replied.

“Young Master Zhonglou, due to the time constraints, there weren’t many options. I apologize for the inconvenience.”

“…”

Huo Zhonglou expressionlessly picked up the white mask to his left.

“Do I need to wear this thing now just to eat dinner by myself?”

“Its bottom is flexible, it won’t interfere with eating,” Huo Jingyan said, then added more calmly, “You can choose not to wear it. I think Miss Qin Ke might have guessed and doesn’t mind.”

“Qin—”

Huo Zhonglou nearly choked on his breath, his face flushing red for two seconds before he reacted, asking in exasperation.

“Qin Ke is coming?! How did she… Huo Jingyan! Who allowed you to make decisions on your own!”

Huo Jingyan’s gaze remained steady.

“Dining with you – this was Miss Qin Ke’s request.”

“…She asks, and you just arrange it!?”

“All of Miss Qin Ke’s requests are to be fulfilled – this is what you yourself said five days ago, Young Master Zhonglou.”

Huo Zhonglou: “…”

Before Huo Zhonglou could explode again or flee, Huo Jingyan seriously looked at his wristwatch.

“According to the time, the servants should have already escorted Miss Qin Ke upstairs – Young Master Zhonglou, you have about one minute to try on the mask.”

“Huo, Jing, yan!”

“50 seconds. Hmm, I think I can hear Miss Qin Ke’s voice.”

“…!”

One minute later.

“Enjoy your dinner.”

Huo Jingyan gave a gentlemanly bow and quietly exited through the back door of the dining room.

Almost simultaneously, the front door of the dining room opened, and Qin Ke walked in.

The servant who had guided Qin Ke proactively closed the door. Qin Ke walked to the long dining table, where cutlery had already been set at her place – far across from the man at the other end of the table.

The crystal chandelier in the dining room had been turned off.

Only two rows of beautifully styled tall candles were placed at the empty ends of the long table, casting flickering shadows.

Qin Ke sat down in the pulled-out high-backed chair and looked up towards the front.

Between the two rows of romantic candlelight, the man sat at the opposite end, dressed in an impeccable formal suit, his posture stiff and meticulous.

And on his face, a white mask with red patterns, depicting a smiling fox face.

Qin Ke paused for two seconds.

“…Pfft.”

The girl couldn’t help it and turned her head away, laughing.

“…”

The man’s figure across the table stiffened even more.

It took Qin Ke several seconds to control her laughter before she looked up at Huo Zhonglou again.

“Did you choose the mask yourself?”

“…”

“It’s really cute.”

“…”

Huo Zhonglou almost bent the knife and fork in his hand.